Not Just the Baby Blues: What PMADs Really Feel Like
So you’ve had a baby…
Everyone says you should be glowing. But instead, you feel numb. Or on edge. Or like you’re holding it together with duct tape. You’ve heard of postpartum depression, but this doesn’t feel like what you imagined.
This might be a PMAD—Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder—and if that sounds clinical, you’re not alone. Many new moms struggle with symptoms they don’t have the language for. This post is here to help.
1. What Are PMADs?
PMAD is an umbrella term for the spectrum of emotional and psychological struggles that can show up during pregnancy and after birth. It includes:
Postpartum depression: sadness, numbness, guilt, or hopelessness
Postpartum anxiety: constant worry, racing thoughts, tension
Postpartum OCD: intrusive thoughts, mental compulsions, fear of harming your baby
Postpartum PTSD: flashbacks or panic after a traumatic birth or NICU stay
Postpartum psychosis (rare, but serious): confusion, hallucinations, paranoia
These are medical conditions, not personal failures. And you are not the only one going through this.
2. 5 Signs You Might Be Experiencing a PMAD
Here are common signs I often hear from clients:
“I can’t stop Googling every little thing.”
“I feel like I’m failing, even when I’m doing everything right.”
“I cry randomly—and then feel guilty for crying.”
“It’s hard to eat, sleep, or focus.”
“I keep imagining scary things happening to my baby.”
If you’re nodding along, you’re not broken. These are treatable symptoms, not a reflection of your worth.
3. Why PMADs Are So Common—And So Overlooked
Our culture loves to focus on baby showers and birth plans—but not what happens after. Many parents go home with little more than a list of feeding schedules and a vague message to “call if you feel sad.”
But 1 in 5 moms will experience a PMAD. This is not rare. This is not shameful. It’s also not your fault.
4. What Helps: You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone
PMADs are highly treatable. Support can include:
Therapy (like the kind I offer): trauma-informed, practical, and validating
Medication, when needed
Peer support groups
Lifestyle supports (sleep, nutrition, movement, community)
Healing takes time, but it’s absolutely possible. And you deserve to feel like you again.
You are not the only one.
You are not failing. And it’s okay to ask for help.
I’m Anne—a therapist who works with overwhelmed and anxious moms navigating early parenthood. If you’re struggling with postpartum depression, anxiety, or intrusive thoughts, I can help.
Book a free 20-minute consultation to see if therapy might be the next right step for you.
👉 Book your consultation here.
